His kneeling caused the two other members of the Su family to turn cold with displeasure, though Su Yuewu couldn’t help but feel amused.
What did this mean? Were they supposed to kneel alongside him?
Su Yuan prided himself on being the eldest brother, a father figure of sorts. If he had to kneel in front of outsiders to maintain appearances, so be it. But kneeling to his younger sister, whom he had watched grow up, in the privacy of their home—submitting to her in such a humble manner—was absolutely out of the question.
Su Yuewan excelled at playing the delicate, fragile role, but at this moment, she couldn’t even pretend.
She stared fixedly at Su Yuewu, her fingers digging into her palms, a wave of intense resentment rising within her.
If she hadn’t been born three years later, this honor should have been hers!
Su Yuewu stepped forward and helped Su Yuan to his feet, chuckling softly, “Eldest Brother, you’re too earnest. I was only joking. Look, has anyone in our family ever truly taken my words to heart?”
Su Yuze wasn’t sure whether her words were meant for him or for his younger brother and sister.
He merely lowered his gaze slightly and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, “They say that entering a noble household is like stepping into deep waters, and entering the palace is even more treacherous. Now that you’ve become a consort, even the slightest misstep in your words or actions could be seized upon by those with ill intentions. As a member of your family, I cannot be ignorant of propriety and cause trouble for you.”
The light in Su Yuewu’s Peach Blossom Eyes flickered slightly, and the curve of her lips gradually faded.
Even her half-brother, born of a different mother, had considered this layer, but what about her own full-blooded brother?
Just as she thought of Su Yuan, the person before her was pushed aside by another tall figure.
Su Yuewu looked up and met Su Yuan’s gaze, filled with disappointment.
His brows were furrowed, and his tone carried both doubt and confusion, “A Wu, how have you become like this? You were never like this before. I remember you being so obedient and well-behaved as a child, never talking back to me, and certainly not becoming so arrogant and heartless toward your family just because you’ve gained some status.”
“It’s not that I’m heartless toward my family. It’s that my family abandoned me first.”
Su Yuewu lifted her eyes to look at him, suddenly feeling that compared to Father’s blatant selfishness, her elder brother’s selfishness—unaware and even convinced he was acting in her best interest—was even more frustrating.
“Brother, I’ve already said everything I needed to say to you that night. I know that with your self-assured nature, you wouldn’t take it to heart. Even if you thought about it later, you’d dismiss it as words spoken in a moment of anger. Let me make it clear to you now: those words have been in my heart since I was twelve. Every time you grew closer to Madam Yun and her daughter, every time you scolded me because of them, you were chipping away at the bond we shared in our first dozen years.”
“Now, that bond has been completely severed by you, Brother. After all, we share the same mother. I have no intention of making an enemy of you, so please, from now on, don’t say things that only irritate me.”
Su Yuewu’s gaze was calm and serious, even tinged with a hint of impatience. Su Yuan felt as though an invisible hand had tightened around his heart, and a sudden sense of panic washed over him—the feeling that things were spiraling out of his control.
Shouldn’t his sister always follow behind him, relying on him and obeying him?
Su Yuan said urgently, “A Wu, it’s because you’re my own sister that I discipline and guide you. If it were some other family’s daughter, no matter how arrogant or unruly she was, even if she became a laughingstock, I wouldn’t bother!”
“Then please, from now on, treat me as if I were some other family’s daughter.”
Su Yuan was so furious his eyes widened, but before he could say anything more, a maid hurried over from the other side: “It’s terrible! Concubine Yun’s heart malady has flared up again!”
Su Yuewan immediately turned pale with shock, forgetting everything else. With a tearful cry of “Mother!”, she hastily lifted her skirt and rushed out.
Su Yuan, unusually, did not follow to showcase his responsibility as the eldest legitimate son. Instead, he steadied his breath and lowered his voice, saying, “A Wu, come back with me. Let’s have a proper talk.”
“Another day. I’m busy today,” Su Yuewu replied indifferently. She then walked over to Su Yuze, who had been standing silently, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Elder Brother, I have matters to discuss with Concubine Feng and Sister-in-law. Let’s go together.”
Su Yuze was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded: “Alright!”
Watching the two walk away side by side, their backs seemingly chatting and laughing, Su Yuan stood rigidly in place. After a moment of bewilderment, a surge of immense anger welled up in his chest.
He and A Wu were the only legitimate siblings!
That lowborn son of a servant, seeing his sister now honored and prosperous, dared to shamelessly cozy up to her?
He should take a good look at what he truly is!
Su Yue Pavilion.
Su Yuewu took a sip of the cool tea poured by Concubine Feng and smiled as she spoke: “Aunt, Sister-in-law, I came today because I have a matter to trouble you with. If it’s inconvenient, that’s perfectly fine, I—”
“What kind of talk is that, Miss?” Concubine Feng interrupted her, her expression serious. “My life was saved by the late Madam. Now that I can be of help to you, our entire family would gladly give our lives a thousand times over.”
Lady Qi glanced at her mother-in-law but remained silent.
Su Yuewu gently rubbed the teacup in her hands, her smiling Peach Blossom Eyes sweeping over the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law before her. “It’s nothing so drastic. It’s just that I’m about to enter the palace and am concerned about the futures of the maids in my courtyard.”
According to the rules of this dynasty, a candidate entering the palace could only bring one maidservant.
Su Yuewu originally had three or four senior maids in her quarters. Recently, apart from Luzhi, the others had been sent off to marry.
So the choice of whom to bring was clear—only Luzhi—with no need for hesitation.
The issue lay with the second and third-tier maids who couldn’t be taken along.
Among them were some who had been loyal and had served her for many years.
“Some of the maids are willing to marry, while others are either too young or not yet ready. After I leave, they still need a good mistress to follow.”
Lady Qi had already grasped her sister-in-law’s meaning and sighed in relief. “Elder Sister, there’s no need to worry. Just have them come to Su Yue Pavilion. Aunt is currently managing the household and is short-handed. When they come of age later, whether they wish to marry or leave the estate, Aunt and I will naturally make proper arrangements for them.”
Concubine Feng hurriedly nodded in agreement, sighing with emotion. “Miss, you truly are the flesh and blood of Madam. Just like her, you show such care and consideration for us servants. Truly…”
As she spoke, she seemed to recall something, her eyes reddening. A few teardrops rolled down her cheeks as she choked out, “Miss, rest assured. Whenever you have need of us, just say the word. Our entire family’s lives are yours.”
As for the Eldest Young Master, he had already recognized a thief as his stepmother. The thought of him made Concubine Feng’s heart ache for her mistress.
Lady Qi secretly furrowed her brow, sighing with a slight headache. She handed a handkerchief to her mother-in-law to wipe her tears while stealing a glance at Su Yuewu.
Su Yuewu gently set down her teacup and spoke softly to Concubine Feng, “Auntie, I know you are utterly devoted to my mother, but you are now a mistress of this household, a grandmother. You mustn’t speak so lightly of sacrificing your life. If Yu Jie’er understood, how heartbroken she would be. Even if my mother were still alive, she would wish for you and my elder brother’s family to live in peace and prosperity.”
Su Yuewu could see that her sister-in-law, Lady Qi, was a reasonable woman. However, if Concubine Feng continued to speak of sacrificing herself for her mistress and dragging the whole family into it, it was inevitable that Lady Qi would harbor resentment and direct her anger toward Su Yuewu.
She sought revenge and had ambitions, but she had few maternal relatives to rely on. She could not afford to make another enemy needlessly.